I swing by the library

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I swing by the library" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that you are making a brief visit to the library, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "After work, I usually swing by the library to pick up some new books."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The apartment complex where I used to live in Texas, by contrast, suspended recycling last year.After lunch, I swing by the central library (pictured below).

The Economist

During your next visit to Perkins-Bostock Library, pleaswinging by the library gallery to see the new exhibit on display now!

Duke University

I swung by the dorms with a photograph of the life preserver.

The New York Times

Then I swung by the liquor store and stocked up on brandy, rum and gin.

The New York Times - Food

I swung by the accelerator's new office a few days ago to meet each team.

TechCrunch

In short order, we had swung by the library, the corner store, the town swimming pool, my sister's house.

MIT Technology Review

The Orange Whip rep suggested I swing by, though, saying I might find some good tech there.

TechCrunch

I'll just swing by the Home Depot tomorrow and pick up the supplies.

TechCrunch

I swung by Casper's New York City offices to see the Wave for myself.

TechCrunch

As I left, he asked if I was going to swing by the clubhouse.

The New Yorker

Every few presidents, I swung by to see my doctor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "swing by" to indicate a casual, often unplanned visit to the library as part of another activity. It implies a brief stop rather than an extended stay.

Common error

Avoid using "swing by" when you intend to convey a formal or scheduled meeting at the library. It's better suited for impromptu visits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I swing by the library" functions as an expression indicating a brief and casual visit to the library. As supported by Ludwig, it is a usable and correct phrase to indicate a brief visit.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I swing by the library" is a common and acceptable way to express a quick, casual visit. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and usable. Its primary function is to inform someone of a brief stop, often while en route to another destination. The usage is generally informal, making it suitable for everyday conversation and casual writing. While the phrase appears in various contexts, it's most prevalent in News & Media. For more formal settings, alternatives such as "I will visit the library briefly" are more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I stop by the library

Replaces "swing by" with "stop by", maintaining the meaning of a quick visit.

I drop in at the library

Substitutes "swing by" with "drop in at", suggesting a casual visit.

I make a quick visit to the library

Rephrases the sentence to explicitly state a "quick visit".

I pop into the library

Uses "pop into" instead of "swing by", implying a brief and spontaneous visit.

I call in at the library

Replaces "swing by" with "call in at", indicating a short visit while on the way elsewhere.

I pay a short visit to the library

Emphasizes the brevity of the visit.

I nip into the library

Uses "nip into", suggesting a very quick visit.

I check out the library

Replaces the entire phrase. "Check out" referring to visit the location to see what's new.

I detour to the library

Suggests a deviation from the main route to visit the library.

I touch base at the library

Uses a business idiom in place of casual visit expression. It is a broader expression used to signal you are attending to the library to do something.

FAQs

What does "I swing by the library" mean?

It means you are making a brief, often unplanned visit to the library, usually while you're already on your way to somewhere else.

What can I say instead of "I swing by the library"?

You can use alternatives like "I stop by the library", "I drop in at the library", or "I make a quick visit to the library" depending on the context.

Is "I swing by the library" formal or informal?

It's considered informal. In a formal context, it's better to use phrases like "I will visit the library briefly".

Can "I swing by the library" be used for a virtual visit?

While less common, it could be used figuratively to mean quickly accessing the library's online resources, although phrases like "I will access the library resources" would be clearer.